|Número de publicación||US5037623 A|
|Tipo de publicación||Concesión|
|Número de solicitud||US 07/165,189|
|Fecha de publicación||6 Ago 1991|
|Fecha de presentación||7 Mar 1988|
|Fecha de prioridad||6 Feb 1986|
|También publicado como||CA1320030C, DE68911339D1, DE68911339T2, EP0332310A2, EP0332310A3, EP0332310B1|
|Número de publicación||07165189, 165189, US 5037623 A, US 5037623A, US-A-5037623, US5037623 A, US5037623A|
|Inventores||Edward T. Schneider, Raymond C. Kralovic|
|Cesionario original||Steris Corporation|
|Exportar cita||BiBTeX, EndNote, RefMan|
|Citas de patentes (22), Otras citas (2), Citada por (70), Clasificaciones (29), Eventos legales (4)|
|Enlaces externos: USPTO, Cesión de USPTO, Espacenet|
This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 826,730, filed Feb. 6, 1986, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,731,222.
The present invention relates to ampule systems for maintaining components, particularly reactive components and reagents, separated until immediately prior to use. It finds particular application in conjunction with sterilant systems in which a peracetic sterilant as well as buffers and corrosion inhibitors are diluted or dissolved immediately prior to a sterilizing operation. However, it is to be appreciated that the present invention will find utility in other multi-component systems which are intermixed in preparation for use, such as photographic systems, coating systems, medications, and the like.
Heretofore, most medical facilities have used steam autoclave sterilization systems. Commonly, medical instruments and equipment were transported to a central sterilizing facility where they were sterilized under the supervision of sterilizing room technicians. In a steam autoclave, which typically has a cycle time of one to two hours, the equipment was subject to superheated steam at high pressures. After an appropriate sterilizing duration, the autoclave was depressurized and cooled.
Instruments and equipment which could not withstand the temperature of an autoclave were commonly sterilized with ethylene oxide gas. After the equipment was sealed in a sterilizing chamber, the highly toxic ethylene oxide gas was introduced under pressure and allowed to remain for a couple of hours, as was appropriate to the selected sterilizing cycle. After the sterilizing cycle, the equipment could not be utilized until absorbed ethylene oxide was removed. This generally required about 12 to 16 hours in a vacuum or about 72 hours in ambient atmospheric conditions.
Liquid sterilization systems were also available for equipment which could not withstand the autoclave or the ethylene oxide systems. However, most were manually performed. That is, the equipment was immersed in a vat or tank that had been filled with a sterilizing solution, such as stabilized hydrogen peroxide or glutaraldehyde. However, because long immersion times on the order of 6 to 10 hours, were commonly required for sterilization, the liquid systems were more commonly used for disinfecting. Because the liquid sterilizing or disinfecting agents were toxic to human tissue, the equipment had to be rinsed before it could be used with human patients. Frequently, non-sterile tap water was used as the rinse.
Sterilization connotes the absence of all life forms including bacterial endospores which are the living organisms most resistant to known sterilants. By contrast, disinfection only connotes the absence of pathogenic life forms. As is to be appreciated, establishing the absence of all life forms for sterilization is more readily documented and controlled than the elimination of pathogenic but not all life forms for disinfection.
Because bacterial spores are the life form which is most resistant to sterilants, they are commonly used as a reproducible, stable indicators of the effectiveness of a sterilization product. For medical sterilizers, a sterility assurance level (SAL) of less than or equal to one chance in one million of having an item contaminated by a bacteria spore is generally regarded as the minimum acceptable level for medical devices. In practice, this level of assurance is obtained by a establishing the exposure time required to sterilize a given quantity of bacterial endospores known to be resistant to the sterilant. The destruction rate of the spore is commonly logrythmic. From the logrythmic destruction rate, commonly denoted by a D value, the exposure time required for an insurance level of one in a million (10-6) can be readily calculated. Because pathogenic microorganisms, which are mostly vegetative forms of bacteria, do not have the stability to derive a D value or its equivalent, there is no readily available biological indicator to show the effectiveness of a disinfectant.
In accordance with the present invention, a new and improved reactive agent dispensing system is provided which overcomes the above referenced sterilizer problems and analogous problems and other equipment in which reactive agents are released contemporaneously with use.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a spill resistant, vented ampule is provided. A vent passage defines an vent aperture at one end. A sealed exterior wall defines an interior volume surrounding the vent aperture such that the vent aperture is generally centrally located in the interior volume. The exterior wall is sealed to the vent passage such that the vent aperture provides the only ingress and egress to the interior volume.
In accordance with more limited aspects of the invention, a gas permeable, fluid blocking membrane is mounted across the vent aperture. In this manner, gas is vented from the interior volume but the leakage of fluid is retarded. A volume of a liquid reagent which is less than half of the interior volume is contained within the ampule. The liquid volume is selected such that a top surface of the liquid is below the vent aperture with the ampule disposed in any orientation.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a siphon extraction system is provided for drawing the liquid from the ampule. A small bore tubular member is passed through the vent passage and into the interior volume. The tubular member is connected with an aspirator for withdrawing the liquid from the ampule and intermixing it with a second reagent. In the preferred embodiment, the first reagent is a strong sterilant concentrate such as peracetic acid and the second reagent is a dilutant such as water.
In accordance with another more limited aspect of the present invention, the water and aspirated sterilant concentrate are circulated through a container holding an item to be sterilized and through a tubing system which interconnects the container with a source of sterile rinse water until the item, the interior of the container, and the tubing system are all sterilized. In this manner, the sterile rinse solution cannot carry bacterial contaminants from the tubing into contact with the sterilized item during a rinse portion of the sterilizing cycle.
One advantage of the present invention is that a sterilizing system is provided that assures sterility.
Another advantage of the present invention is that a one dose sterilant cartridge is provided to assure proper reagent formulation and eliminate operator error.
Yet another advantage of the present invention is that it provides a vented, liquid containing ampule which may be disposed in any orientation without leaking liquid.
Still further advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reading and understanding of the following detailed description.
The invention may take form in various parts and arrangements of parts or in various steps and arrangements of steps. The drawings are only for purposes of illustrating a preferred embodiment and are not to be construed as limiting the invention.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a sterilizing apparatus in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a tubing diagram of the sterilizer of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a detailed cross sectional view of the aspirator sterilant withdrawal assembly of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4A, 4B, and 4C are detailed cross sectional views of the ampule of FIG. 3 in a range of orientations;
FIGS. 5A, 5B, 5C, and 5D illustrate a preferred method of loading sterilant and powered reagents into the sterilizing apparatus;
FIG. 6 illustrates an alternate embodiment of a sterilant ampule in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 7 is another alternate embodiment of the sterilant ampule;
FIG. 8 is a top view of yet another alternate embodiment of the sterilant ampule; and,
FIG. 9 illustrates an alternate reagent discharging apparatus.
With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, a dilutant or water source 10 supplies water or other fluid reagents. In the preferred sterilizer embodiment, the water source includes a length of tubing 12 connected with a water spigot or other building plumbing and a control valve 14 for selectively preventing and permitting the flow of water to a water sterilizing means 16. In the preferred embodiment, the water sterilizing means is a filter which removes particulates which are as large or larger than bacteria.
A tubing system connects the filter with a container or module 20 for receiving an item to be sterilized. In the preferred embodiment, the container is defined by a removable tray 22 configured in accordance with the item to be sterilized, e.g. an endoscope. A lid 24 is sealed to the tray by a resilient gasket 26 to complete the container. Optionally, a transparent window 28 is defined the in the lid.
During a fill cycle, sterile water flows through the tubing system filling itself and the container 20. The water flows through a spray nozzle 30 and a container distribution manifold 32 into the container and a reagent receiving well 34. As more water is introduced, vent lines 36 are filled with excess water and discharged through a check valve 38 into a drain 40.
A reagent introduction system 42 selectively supplies sterilant, buffer, detergent, and corrosion inhibitors to the dilutant. More specifically, an aspirator 44 selectively withdraws sterilant concentrate from an ampule 46. Powdered reagent received in the well 34 is dissolved as water flows in from the container.
After the system is filled, pump 50 selectively draws water from the container 20 through the well 34 and aspirator 44. Recirculating the water dissolves the powdered reagents and aspirates the sterilant from the ampule and circulates the sterilant and reagents through the tubing system 18. Preferably, the vent line 36 is very short and of a substantial diameter such that the solution is circulated over exposed services of the drain check valve 38 and a vent check valve 52. A heating coil 54 adjusts the temperature of the solution. Recirculation continues until the item, the interior of the container, and all exposed surfaces of the tubing system and valves are sterilized.
As the sterilant solution is drained through drain valve 56, sterile air is drawn into the system through an air sterilizing means--preferably a filter that removes any particles the size of a bacteria or larger. The fill valve 14 is opened and the drain valve 56 is closed such that the sterile filter 16 provides a source of sterile rinse. Note that the sterile rinse passes only along sterilized surfaces to assure sterility. The pump 50 circulates the sterile rinse throughout the system. Sterile rinse is drained by opening drain valve 56 again. By closing a valve 60, the pump 50 functions to pump liquid from the system out the drain 40. Additional drain lines (not shown) and aspirators or pumps (not shown) may be provided for removing liquid from all regions of the system.
With particular reference to FIG. 3, the sterilant aspirator system 42 includes a hollow, tubular needle or tube 70 which is inserted into the ampule to withdraw the sterilant. The needle 70 is connected with arm 72 which selectively swings the needle into and out of alignment with the ampule 46. A vertical tubular portion 74 is telescopically received in a stationary tubular portion 86. A coil spring 78 biases the arm tubular portion upward, hence, the needle 70 out of contact with the ampule. When the arm is locked into proper alignment with the ampule, closing the lid 24 biases the arm downward against the coil spring 78 forcing the needle 70 into the ampule. Water pumped through the aspirator 44 aspirates the sterilant from the ampule into the fluid flow. Preferably, the aspiration rate is selected such that the sterilant is aspirated gradually over the time required to circulate the water around the system one time.
With reference to FIGS. 4A, 4B, and 4C, the sterilant ampule 46 has an exterior wall 80 which defines an interior volume 82 therein. A linear vent passage 84 integral with the exterior wall defines a passage extending linearly from the exterior to a vent aperture 86. In the preferred embodiment, the vent passage extends linearly along a first axis 88 to act as a guide for the needle 70. In this manner, the needle 70 passes through the vent aperture 86 into the interior volume.
In the illustrated embodiment, the exterior wall includes a circularly cylindrical peripheral wall 90 a minimum radius r from the first axis. End walls 92 and 94 extend generally transverse to the axis 88 and are integrally sealed to the peripheral wall. The vent aperture 86 is centrally disposed in the volume. More specifically, the vent aperture 86 is disposed a minimum radial distance r from the peripheral wall and generally a height h from each end wall. The ampule is charged less than half full with a fluid sterilant 96 such that its upper surface 98 is disposed below the vent aperture 86. More specifically, the interior volume 82 is configured relative to the volume of the sterilant such that the sterilant depth is always less than h and r regardless of the orientation of the ampule. In this manner, the liquid does not leak from the vent aperture 86 regardless of the orientation of the ampule 46.
To protect against leakage due to splashing, a porous membrane 100 is disposed across the vent aperture 86. The membrane is a fine woven material which has a median pore size sufficiently small compared to the drop size and wetting ability or surface tension of the liquid sterilant on the fiber material that the sterilant is effectively blocked from passing therethrough. Similarly, water is prevented from flowing freely into the ampule. When the needle 70 passes the vent aperture 86, its cambered end distorts the woven porous material moving the fibers out of its way. The natural resiliency of the fibers tends to return them to their original position when the needle is withdrawn. Any sterilant residue is held in the ampule by the position of the vent aperture 86 and the membrane 100. In this manner, after the sterilization cycle is complete, the operator is protected from contacting the full strength sterilant concentrate directly. Analogously, no dilution of the sterilant concentrate occurs if a sterilizing cycle is aborted before aspiration starts.
With reference again to FIG. 1 and particular reference to FIGS. 5A-D, in operation, the ampule 46 is disposed in the bottom of a see-through larger container 110. The container 110 has a peel-off top 112 which provides access to its contents. The container is shaped such that the ampule 46 fits snugly in the bottom and other powdered reagents 114 are disposed on top.
In FIG. 5B, the sterilizer arm 72 is swung out of the way and the powdery agents are poured into the well 34. The ampule 46 is supported by rods or other ampule supporting means 116 in a preselected position in the well. In the illustrated embodiment, the ampule is symmetric, thus assuring a central position of the vent aperture 86. Alternately, the support means 126 may include a key or key means which interacts with a selected portion of the ampule to assure proper alignment and positioning.
In FIG. 5C, the aspirator arm 72 is swung and locked until the needle 70 is directly over the vent aperture 86. Because the ampule is accurately positioned in the well, the aspirator arm is adjusted to lock itself in the aligned position without hand aligning by the operator. When the lid 24 is closed as in FIG. 5D, the lid cams the aspirator arm against the coil spring 78 moving the tip of the needle 70 through the vent aperture into the proper position within the ampule. Optionally, the ampule may have a small well directly in line with the vent to accommodate the tip of the aspirator needle and assure more complete emptying of the ampule.
In the preferred embodiment, the powdered materials include buffers, detergents, and anti-corrosive agents. The anti-corrosive agents are selected in accordance with the selected sterilant and the nature of the materials in the sterilized items, such as brass fittings, that might be subject to corrosion. Further to the preferred embodiment, the sterilant is peracetic acid. Peracetic acid tends to liberate small quantities of oxygen during transportation and storage. Accordingly, the vent 86 insures that the pressure within the ampule does not become so great that it ruptures. High pressure could also cause spraying of the sterilant upon entry by the needle 70. Once the peracetic acid is diluted and mixed with the buffers, detergents, and corrosion inhibitors, its efficacy as a sterilant is lost after a relatively short duration. The loss of efficacy is much slower than a normal sterilizing cycle, but too short for an ampule containing all the ingredients to have a satisfactory shelf life.
With reference to FIGS. 6, 7, and 8, the ampule may take various shapes. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, the exterior wall 80 may be spherical. The vent aperture is still disposed in the center of the sphere and the fill level is such that the depth of the sterilant is smaller than the radius of the spherical interior volume. Alternately, as illustrated in FIG. 7, the vent aperture may be disposed eccentrically. However, the vent aperture is still disposed sufficiently close to the center of the interior volume that for the volume of sterilant provided, the upper surface of the sterilant always remains below the vent aperture. As yet another alternative, as shown in FIG. 8, the ampule may have a groove or key way 120 in the exterior wall or a groove or aperture 122 in an exterior flange to assure that the ampule is disposed in a preselected alignment. By selecting a sufficiently fanciful or arbitrary exterior shape or key pattern, protection can be had against inserting generally round ampules from other equipment which might contain substances other than sterilants.
With reference to FIG. 9, the sterilant, buffer, detergent, anti-corrosives, and other reagents may be retrieved from a two compartment container in other ways. For example, the liquid containing ampule 46 may be mounted in the upper portion of a clear plastic cup 110 with the powdered components or reagents 114 in the lower portion. The powdered components are selected to include a material which changes color upon exposure to the liquid components. In this manner, a visual check is provided that the liquid components have not leaked into the powdered components. A vent 124 in the outer cup provides communication between the ampule and the atmosphere. Rather than siphoning out the liquid sterilant, a first puncturing ram 130 can extend into the lower part of the cup to introduce water or other dilutant into the cup and dissolve the powdered reagents. Additional water flow into the cup may be had when a first cutter 132 cuts the cup allowing water pumped into the well to circulate through the powder region of the cup. Movement of additional cutters 134 pierce both the cup and the sterilant ampule. In this manner, the powdered ingredients can be dissolved and mixed with recirculating water or other dilutant before the sterilant is released. In the illustrated embodiment, cutters 132 and 134 are mounted on a common shaft 136 which is incrementally rotated to cause staged cutting of the cup and the ampule.
The invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiment. Obviously, modifications and alterations will occur to others upon reading and understanding the preceding detailed description. It is intended that the invention be construed as including all such alterations and modifications insofar as they come within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.
|Patente citada||Fecha de presentación||Fecha de publicación||Solicitante||Título|
|US675971 *||7 Ene 1901||11 Jun 1901||Carter S Ink Co||Paste pot or jar.|
|US854617 *||3 Jul 1906||21 May 1907||Scient Preservation Company||Gas-generator for fumigation.|
|US2494456 *||18 Mar 1946||10 Ene 1950||Kathleen S Still||Container|
|US3521745 *||31 Jul 1968||28 Jul 1970||Gilbert Schwartzman||Mixing package|
|US3713780 *||1 Feb 1971||30 Ene 1973||Becton Dickinson Co||Apparatus for chemical testing|
|US3893832 *||1 Nov 1973||8 Jul 1975||Mead Corp||Sterile fluid system|
|US4171340 *||2 Mar 1978||16 Oct 1979||Earth Chemical Company, Ltd.||Fumigating apparatus and method|
|US4362241 *||6 Ago 1980||7 Dic 1982||Williams Robert M||Apparatus for cold disinfection of dental and medical instruments|
|US4482047 *||31 May 1983||13 Nov 1984||Societe D'assistance Technique Pour Produits Nestle S.A.||Container|
|US4483439 *||18 Feb 1982||20 Nov 1984||Wella Aktiengesellschaft||Two-component packaging for pourable media|
|US4537303 *||2 Dic 1983||27 Ago 1985||Muehlbauer Ernst||Device and method for mixing liquid and powdery components, particularly for dental purposes|
|US4552728 *||3 Ene 1983||12 Nov 1985||Hal Johnston Pty. Limited||Decontamination apparatus|
|US4794085 *||29 Jul 1987||27 Dic 1988||Eastman Kodak Company||Apparatus and method for detecting liquid penetration by a container used for aspirating and dispensing the liquid|
|DE88419C *||Título no disponible|
|DE1216770B *||26 Jul 1963||12 May 1966||Hans Dohse||Luftdicht verschliessbarer Behaelter und Vorrichtung zum Evakuieren und luftdichten Verschliessen dieses Behaelters|
|DE2749448A1 *||4 Nov 1977||10 May 1979||Stierlen Maquet Ag||Cleaning combined with disinfection - in four chambers with disinfectant added to cleansing agent|
|DE3339930A1 *||4 Nov 1983||23 May 1985||Hamba Maschf||Method and device for sterilization of cup-shaped containers intended for accommodation of dairy products|
|FR547150A *||Título no disponible|
|FR1100325A *||Título no disponible|
|FR1304099A *||Título no disponible|
|FR2138154A3 *||Título no disponible|
|GB1180059A *||Título no disponible|
|1||"Raychem: Faster, Better, Quicker" by Alysssa Lappen, Forbes, Nov. 2, 1987, pp. 200-203.|
|2||*||Raychem: Faster, Better, Quicker by Alysssa Lappen, Forbes, Nov. 2, 1987, pp. 200 203.|
|Patente citante||Fecha de presentación||Fecha de publicación||Solicitante||Título|
|US5275310 *||13 Mar 1992||4 Ene 1994||American Sterilizer Company||Vented, non-resuable, multi-dose cartridge|
|US5439654 *||23 Jun 1994||8 Ago 1995||Steris Corporation||Cutter for opening sterilant reagent cups|
|US5465833 *||1 Abr 1993||14 Nov 1995||Tarter; Norman D.||Dental impression material package|
|US5545343 *||8 Oct 1992||13 Ago 1996||Solvay Interox Limited||Peracid compositions for medical disinfection|
|US5624634 *||2 Jun 1995||29 Abr 1997||Solvay Interox Limited||Peracid compositions for medical disinfection|
|US5662866 *||25 Sep 1995||2 Sep 1997||Steris Corporation||Two compartment cup for powdered sterilant reagent components|
|US5863498 *||7 Feb 1997||26 Ene 1999||Steris Corporation||Decontamination apparatus door unit|
|US5863499 *||3 Nov 1997||26 Ene 1999||Steris Corporation||Light weight vented package for liquids|
|US5882589 *||7 Mar 1996||16 Mar 1999||Leon Shipper||Sealed endoscope decontamination, disinfection and drying device|
|US6013227 *||17 Dic 1997||11 Ene 2000||Johnson & Johnson Medical, Inc.||Lumen device reprocessor without occlusion|
|US6015529 *||17 Dic 1997||18 Ene 2000||Johnson & Johnson Medical, Inc.||Tray/container system for cleaning/sterilization processes|
|US6083458 *||17 Dic 1997||4 Jul 2000||Ethicon, Inc.||Apparatus and method for providing fluid to devices with reduced or without occlusion|
|US6092649 *||22 Oct 1999||25 Jul 2000||Sermed Industries Inc.||Cartridge for holding a first and second fluid|
|US6103189 *||10 Mar 1998||15 Ago 2000||Kralovic; Raymond C.||Method of removing microbial contamination|
|US6187266||17 Dic 1997||13 Feb 2001||Johnson & Johnson Medical, Inc.||Integrated cleaning/sterilization process with lumen devices|
|US6203756||17 Dic 1997||20 Mar 2001||Johnson & Johnson Medical, Inc.||Integrated cleaning sterilization process|
|US6203767||6 Nov 1998||20 Mar 2001||Steris Corporation||Peracetic acid card reader and card style sensor|
|US6312645||30 Dic 1998||6 Nov 2001||Ethicon, Inc.||Container with collapsible pouch for cleaning or sterilization|
|US6325968 *||23 Dic 1998||4 Dic 2001||Steris Corporation||Antimicrobial composition delivery system with an integrated filler|
|US6361552 *||27 Sep 1999||26 Mar 2002||Michael J. Badalamenti||Teething gel applicator with cutter, and burstable ampule and method of making the same|
|US6364103||7 Jul 2000||2 Abr 2002||Sermed Industries, Inc.||Cartridge for holding a first and second fluid|
|US6379614||22 Oct 1999||30 Abr 2002||Sermed Industries Inc.||Apparatus and method for sterilizing an instrument at substantially room temperature|
|US6448062||29 Oct 1999||10 Sep 2002||Metrex Research Corporation||Simultaneous cleaning and decontaminating compositions and methods|
|US6482358||7 Feb 2000||19 Nov 2002||Steris Inc.||Three part cup for packaging cleaning and sterilizing agents and sequential cutter|
|US6485979||5 Ago 1999||26 Nov 2002||3M Innovative Properties Company||Electronic system for tracking and monitoring articles to be sterilized and associated method|
|US6521180||16 Nov 2001||18 Feb 2003||Sermed Industries, Inc.||Method of sterilization|
|US6527872||10 Oct 2001||4 Mar 2003||Steris Inc.||Environmentally friendly peracetic acid decontamination formula with increased performance and chemical stability|
|US6534002||30 Dic 1998||18 Mar 2003||Ethicon, Inc.||Flow of fluid through a lumen device from smaller-caliber end to larger-caliber end|
|US6585943||7 Feb 2000||1 Jul 2003||Steris Inc.||Liquid cleaning and sterilization system|
|US6589565||22 Nov 1999||8 Jul 2003||Ecolab Inc.||Non-corrosive sterilant composition|
|US6594971||29 Dic 1999||22 Jul 2003||Ethicon, Inc.||Sterile packaging for flexible endoscopes|
|US6596232||29 Sep 2000||22 Jul 2003||Ethicon, Inc.||Device processing apparatus and method having positive pressure with two partitions to minimize leakage|
|US6623695||27 Oct 1999||23 Sep 2003||Steris Corporation||Chemical modification of electrochemically activated solutions for improved performance|
|US6632397||30 Sep 1999||14 Oct 2003||Minntech Corporation||Multi-part anti-microbial concentrate system, activated solution, use-dilution solution, method of making same, and method of sterilizing with the use-dilution solution|
|US6645430||30 Ago 2000||11 Nov 2003||Ethicon, Inc.||Method and apparatus for processing device with fluid submersion|
|US6656427||22 Dic 2000||2 Dic 2003||Ethicon, Inc.||Sterilization process without sterile rinse|
|US6685895||29 Ago 2000||3 Feb 2004||Ethicon, Inc.||Method and apparatus for processing device with reduced occlusion|
|US6749807 *||19 May 1999||15 Jun 2004||Steris Corporation||Flow through chemical indicator for measurement of active biocidal agents in a single use package|
|US6797681||20 Nov 2002||28 Sep 2004||Steris Inc.||Environmentally friendly peracetic acid decontamination formula with increased performance and chemical stability|
|US7056536||10 Mar 2003||6 Jun 2006||Ecolab Inc.||Non-corrosive sterilant composition|
|US7229591||31 May 2002||12 Jun 2007||Ethicon, Inc.||Lumen sterilization device and method|
|US7351386||4 Abr 2002||1 Abr 2008||Steris Inc||Cartridge holder for automated reprocessor|
|US7556767||31 Jul 2003||7 Jul 2009||Ethicon, Inc.||Integrated washing and sterilization process|
|US7780910||24 Ago 2010||Steris Inc||Cartridge holder for automated reprocessor|
|US7998751 *||16 Ago 2011||Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics Inc.||Method and apparatus for aspirating and dispensing small liquid samples in an automated clinical analyzer|
|US8216523||10 Jul 2012||Steris Inc.||Decontamination unit with collapsible decontamination enclosure and decontamination process|
|US8460605||11 Jun 2013||Steris Inc.||Decontaminant dispenser suitable for use as a projectile|
|US8492162||19 Feb 2010||23 Jul 2013||3M Innovative Properties Company||Electronic system for tracking and monitoring articles to be sterilized and associated method|
|US8497405||28 Feb 2013||30 Jul 2013||Steris Inc.||Process for dispersing vaporous hydrogen peroxide|
|US8668880||22 Mar 2011||11 Mar 2014||American Sterilizer Company||Apparatus for releasing a dry chemistry into a liquid sterilization system|
|US8920715||7 Ago 2006||30 Dic 2014||Hemostasis, Llc||Sterilant composition and system|
|US20030026729 *||31 May 2002||6 Feb 2003||Wu Su-Syin S.||Lumen sterilization device and method|
|US20030047504 *||10 Sep 2002||13 Mar 2003||The Procter & Gamble Company||Consumable container comprising a filter|
|US20030100101 *||27 Jun 2002||29 May 2003||Metrex Research Corporation||Simultaneous cleaning and decontaminating compositions and methods|
|US20030170901 *||25 Nov 2002||11 Sep 2003||3M Innovative Properties Company||Electronic system for tracking and monitoring articles to be sterilized and associated method|
|US20050126984 *||18 Nov 2004||16 Jun 2005||The Procter & Gamble Company||Consumable container comprising a filter|
|US20050220665 *||28 Sep 2004||6 Oct 2005||Ding Lambert L||Low temperature sterilization and disinfections method and apparatus for medical apparatus and instruments|
|US20050226795 *||4 Abr 2005||13 Oct 2005||Steriquip, Inc.||Durable fill block for flow of fluids through a hinged lid|
|US20060239860 *||26 Abr 2005||26 Oct 2006||Timothy Patrick Evers||Method and apparatus for aspirating and dispensing small liquid samples in an automated clinical analyzer|
|US20060240563 *||22 Jun 2006||26 Oct 2006||3M Innovative Properties Company||Electronic system for tracking and monitoring articles to be sterilized and associated method|
|US20080279720 *||20 Feb 2008||13 Nov 2008||Meilander Timothy W||Decontamination unit with collapsible decontamination enclosure and decontamination process|
|US20100217620 *||26 Ago 2010||3M Innovative Properties Company||Electronic system for tracking and monitoring articles to be sterilized and associated method|
|US20120114524 *||13 Jul 2010||10 May 2012||Juergen Sigg||Surface Decontamination of Prefilled Containers in Secondary Packaging|
|US20140170020 *||12 Dic 2013||19 Jun 2014||Canon Marketing Japan Kabushiki Kaisha||Sterilization apparatus, sterilization method|
|EP2340853A1||10 Jul 2000||6 Jul 2011||3M Innovative Properties Company||Electronic system for tracking and monitoring articles to be sterilized|
|EP2347772A1||10 Jul 2000||27 Jul 2011||3M Innovative Properties Company||Method for tracking articles to be sterilized|
|WO1993007909A1 *||8 Oct 1992||29 Abr 1993||Solvay Interox Limited||Compositions and uses thereof|
|WO2003022398A1 *||10 Sep 2002||20 Mar 2003||The Procter & Gamble Company||Consumable container comprising a filter|
|WO2003086481A1||4 Abr 2003||23 Oct 2003||Steris Inc.||Cartridge holder for automated reprocessor|
|WO2013134760A3 *||11 Mar 2013||18 Jun 2015||Invivo Therapeutics Corporation||Protective packaging with product preparation features incorporated|
|Clasificación de EE.UU.||422/292, 206/532, 206/219, 422/294, 422/417|
|Clasificación internacional||A61L2/20, A61L15/44, A61L31/16, B65D81/32, B65D77/22, A61L2/16, A61L2/24, A61L15/46, A61L2/18, A01N25/34|
|Clasificación cooperativa||A61L2/16, A61L2/24, A61L2/18, B65D81/3216, A01N25/34, B65D77/225, A61L2/20|
|Clasificación europea||A01N25/34, A61L2/16, B65D77/22D, B65D81/32C, A61L2/18, A61L2/24, A61L2/20|
|23 Mar 1990||AS||Assignment|
Owner name: STERIS CORPORATION, 72 CORWIN DRIVE, PAINESVILLE,
Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST.;ASSIGNORS:SIEGEL, NORMAN L.;SCHNEIDER, EDWARD T.;KRALOVIC, RAYMOND C.;REEL/FRAME:005258/0961
Effective date: 19900314
|19 Ene 1995||FPAY||Fee payment|
Year of fee payment: 4
|2 Feb 1999||FPAY||Fee payment|
Year of fee payment: 8
|5 Feb 2003||FPAY||Fee payment|
Year of fee payment: 12